District responded with statement following mass shooting Friday at elementary school in Connecticut

The Kirksville School District released a statement Monday seeking to assure parents and community members that the district has security measures in place to protect children, teachers and staff in the wake of the mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., last week.

The district loosely outlined several security and emergency response plans and steps currently in place, including the use of police officer patrols and the presence of the school resource officer on campus.

According to the statement, each school has crisis plans in place and staff practice emergency response drills throughout the year.

The statement highlighted the cooperative relationship between both the school and the Kirksville Police Department, but also noted that all students, staff and parents need to maintain open communication with district officials to assure issues are addressed properly.

"If something is troubling we must never hesitate to speak up and be assured the issue will be addressed," the statement reads. "Open communication between home and school is critical to the safety and well-being of our children."